Staff Report
The Northern Illinois Diabetes Coalition (NIDC) will host the second annual Dine in Denim for Diabetes dinner in honor of National Diabetes Day at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14.

The dinner is intended to educate community members about diabetes awareness and prevention. Speakers include State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, State Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, medical professionals, people living with diabetes, and Rockford-area students who have participated in the NIDC’s “Peppy Up” diabetes prevention program.
Peppy Up is a book with an engaging curriculum program that is helping fifth-grade students at Rockford Public Schools work together to prevent diabetes. University of Illinois medical and pharmacy students have helped the NIDC create a school-based curriculum to educate children how their environment impacts their health. The curriculum features a “Peppy Up” food list, foods that help children prevent diabetes; fun exercises; and highlights the importance of getting enough sleep. Students are taught that while Type 1 diabetes is not preventable, Type 2 diabetes is genetic, and in some cases, preventable.

“Rockford is the fourth most obese city in the nation, and our community is at even greater risk for the epidemic of diabetes,” said Patti Nelligan, MS, RN, Children’s Diabetes Prevention Committee, Northern Illinois Diabetes Coalition. “The Peppy Up program is an engaging opportunity for students to be mentors in their schools, families and communities to raise awareness of diabetes and help prevent the epidemic. This campaign has been very positive for children, and children have eaten healthier from reading the book. Some RPS fifth-graders will even make a special ‘Peppy Up’ performance at the Dine in Denim dinner.”

For more about the NIDC, visit www.northernidc.org, and to learn more about the Peppy Up program, visit http://www.northernidc.org/pdatabase/contentv/indexpa.html.
The NIDC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping people affected by diabetes with quality care, education and support. Its mission is to provide services to people in 15 counties in northwest Illinois, regardless of income, color, gender, creed, language or disability and help facilitate access to continuing care. The NIDC was organized in 1999 and supports and provides funding for various community campaigns designed to prevent diabetes through education.